Kushi & Co. brings yakitori and Japanese street food to Bo Diddley Plaza
Press release from Kushi & Co.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Kushi & Co. is now open at Bo Diddley Plaza, bringing something entirely new to downtown Gainesville: a chef-driven yakitori and Japanese street food experience rooted in bold flavor, organic ingredients, and Florida soul. Every item on the menu is 100% gluten-free, made with natural and organic ingredients, and designed to be shared, savored, and remembered.
The concept is helmed by a chef-partner (Charlie Keller) with Michelin-star experience, who most recently led the kitchens at Spurrier’s Gridiron Grille and Hotel Eleo. At Kushi & Co., that same level of culinary craft is channeled into an approachable, fast-casual format — great food at a great value, served in the open air of one of Gainesville’s most beloved public spaces.
Yakitori: The Art of the Skewer
The word kushi means “skewer” in Japanese — and the skewer is the soul of this restaurant. Yakitori is the centuries-old Japanese tradition of grilling small cuts of meat, seafood, and vegetables over high heat, often with a house-made tare (a rich, savory-sweet glaze) and a finishing touch of yuzu citrus. It’s street food at its finest: smoky, precise, deeply flavorful, and endlessly snackable.
At Kushi & Co., guests can mix and match skewers grilled to order — from juicy chicken thigh finished with sake, tare, and yuzu, to skirt steak with togarashi heat, to plump shrimp in miso marinade. For plant-based guests, shishito peppers and earthy mushrooms hit the grill with the same care and seasoning as everything else. Vegetarians and vegans will find plenty to love here.
Small Plates & Onigiri
Alongside the skewers, the menu features a selection of Japanese small plates designed for sharing. Guests can build their meal with bowls of Japanese rice — plain, dressed with tare and cultured butter, or elevated as the signature Kushi Rice with truffle and cured egg yolk. A crisp cucumber salad with garlic miso and sesame, house-made pickles, and rotating house sauces round out the spread.
A highlight not to be missed: the Onigiri of the Day. Onigiri are hand-formed Japanese rice balls — a beloved street food staple that wraps seasoned rice around a savory filling, then shapes it into a compact triangle. Think of it as Japan’s answer to a sandwich: portable, satisfying, and endlessly versatile. Daily rotating fillings at Kushi & Co. might include flavors like curried chicken, king mushroom, spicy tuna, or pickled plum — something fresh and seasonal to look forward to every visit.
Dinner guests can also enjoy the Sharable — a generous platter of Japanese rice, herbs, greens, house pickles, cilantro, and Kushi vinaigrette topped with your choice of protein: slow-rendered Koji Pork Belly, silken Tofu with tare and yuzu, or Miso Shrimp with scallion. It’s the perfect centerpiece for a table.
Sake, Japanese Beer, & Curated Wines
The drink program at Kushi & Co. is as thoughtfully composed as the food. Sake — Japan’s iconic fermented rice wine — takes center stage, with a curated selection ranging from clean and classic to sparkling and fruit-forward. Guests can choose from premium pours like Pure Grain Nakagawa and Bushido Premium Sake, or go effervescent with the Hana Awaka Sparkling Sake or the playful Snow Monkey Yuzu Hibiscus Sparkling Sake — a natural match for the citrus notes throughout the menu.
On draft and in bottle, the beer list leans Japanese: Sapporo on draft, and two craft offerings from the celebrated Kizakura Brewing Co. of Kyoto — Lucky Cat and Lucky Dog — alongside Orion from Okinawa. For wine lovers, a concise selection of international bottles has been chosen to complement the menu, including a Cape Mentelle Chardonnay, Eau de Provence Rosé, and a Fabre Montmayou Cabernet Franc.
Hours & Catering
Kushi & Co. is open six days a week for Lunch from 11am–2pm and Dinner from 4pm until close. The restaurant is also open during special events at Bo Diddley Plaza — making it the ideal stop before, during, or after a show, market, or community gathering.
Catering is available for private events, corporate gatherings, and special occasions. Kushi & Co.’s skewer-forward format is uniquely suited to group dining — interactive, shareable, and impressive. Inquire directly for custom catering packages.
At a Glance
- Open 6 Days — Lunch 11am–2pm | Dinner 4pm–Close | Open During Special Plaza Events (Closed Mondays for rest!)
- 100% Gluten-Free — every item, every day
- Organic & Natural Ingredients
- Vegetarian & Vegan Options
- Kid-Friendly
- Affordable
- Catering Available